A mix of heavy showers, sweltering temperatures and even a chance of thunder and hail is expected to impact Christmas festivities today and tomorrow.
MetService meteorologist Alanna Burrows told the Herald several heavy rain warnings and strong wind watches are in place, which will put a damper on some people’s outdoor plans, but it is not all bad news.
Burrows said it is mainly fine for the majority of the North Island today, except for a few showers for Northland in the morning.
She said there was a “dry focus” for the North Island with several regions likely to reach above-average temperatures.
“Gisborne is going to be quite warm at 29C, which is quite a nice spot to be in,” she said.
Aucklanders enjoying their Christmas lunch will also be in for a mainly fine day with the chance of an afternoon shower forecast to hit north of the city.
Burrows said Auckland is set to reach 25C, which is above the average for this time of year of 22.6C.
For Wellington, some northerly winds are likely to become strong in the morning.
“It will be quite noticeably strong if you’re out of a sheltered spot, you’ll be able to feel that,” she said.
Burrows said rain and showers are set to drench the west coast of the South Island, but the east coast is forecast to remain mostly fine.
“For the South Island, the majority of the rain is going to be in the west or the south, reaching Otago.
“It’s getting blocked really by the mountains, so it’s going to be nice in the east,” she said.
She said there will be a “split” for the South Island, with areas such as Christchurch and Nelson expected to have a fine day with a bit of high cloud.
“For Christchurch, we’re seeing a high of 26C tomorrow, which is above average for them as well, over 4C above average,” Burrows said.
Christchurch is set for mainly fine weather with noticeable clouds and strengthening winds in the afternoon, which may impact any outdoor barbecue plans.
She said Dunedin is in for a different story, with a risk of some cloudy periods and possibly thundery conditions with hail from the afternoon into the evening.
Before the new year, Burrows said the weather looks to be changeable for the North Island and more settled for the South.
“There’s a chance of a transient ridge building into New Year’s Day, but that’s still quite uncertain at this range,” she said.
In an update on Thursday morning MetService described weather conditions as looking quite variable over the next few days.
“Rain moves over the North Island for Boxing Day which may put a damper on some plans.”
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi today said it had cancelled planned resurfacing work on the Auckland Harbour Bridge due to heavy rain predicted for the city later this week.
The work had been scheduled to take place between Boxing Day and January 6.
The ranges of the Buller District are under an orange heavy rain warning from 6am today until 6am Boxing Day.
The ranges of the Westland and Grey districts from Arthurs Pass northwards and the Canterbury Headwaters from Arthurs Pass northwards are under the same warning until 11pm tonight.
The Tasman District, about and south of St Arnaud, is under a heavy rain watch until 6am tomorrow.
The ranges of the Westland District from Mt Cook to Arthurs Pass are also under a heavy rain watch until 6pm.
A heavy rain watch is also in place for Canterbury Headwaters from Mt Cook to Arthurs Pass until 6pm.
A strong wind watch is in place for the Canterbury High Country and near the foothills until 9am today.
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